Mr Chavez had been seriously ill with cancer for more than a year, undergoing several operations in Cuba, and had not been seen in public for several months.

 

Foreign Minister Elias Jose Jaua Milano declared seven days of mourning and said Mr Chavez's body would lie in state until his funeral on Friday.

 

Vice-President Nicolas Maduro would assume the presidency² until an election was called within 30 days, he added.

 

"It is the mandate³（授权，命令） that Comandante President Hugo Chavez gave us," Mr Jaua told state television, adding that Mr Maduro would also be the candidate of the governing United Socialist⁴ Party (PSUV).

 

It was not immediately clear when the election would take place.

 

Mr Chavez's illness prevented him from taking the oath of office after he was re-elected for a third term in October and the President of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, had been expected by some to take over as interim⁵（临时的） president in the event of his death.

 

However, he was not among the political and military leaders who flanked the vice-president when he announced Mr Chavez's death.

 

 

In Tuesday's televised address, a tearful Mr Maduro said the president had passed away "after battling a tough illness for nearly two years".

 

"We have received the toughest and tragic⁶ information that... Comandante President Hugo Chavez died today at 16:25," he added.

 

Mr Maduro called on the nation to close ranks after its leader's demise（死亡，转让）. 

 

"Let there be no weakness, no violence. Let there be no hate. In our hearts there should only be one sentiment: Love."

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